Circular loom and method of operating same



p 1952 c. s. COLE 2,609,838

CIRCULAR LOOM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 11, 1947 7 Shasta-Sheet l 4 IN V EN TOR.

C/VJALEJ J. C015 4M @HTLQQAM Sept. 9, 1952 c. s. COLE CIRCULAR LOOM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 9, 1952 c. s. COLE CIRCULAR LOOM AND METHOD OF OPERATING sun;

7' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 11, 1947 Sept. 9, 1952 c. s. COLE CIRCULAR LOOM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept 9, 1952 c. s. COLE 2,609,838

CIRCULAR LOOM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 f7 42' l 7 Q n Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Oct. 11, 1947 c. s. COLE 2,609,838

cmcuum LOOM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 .A I'TORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 c. s. COLE 2,509,338

CIRCULAR LOOM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Filed Oct. 11, 1947 7 SheetsSheet 7 INVEN TOR. 6/94/1751" J: 6615 Y z awuemmw ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 Gharles Schneider Cole, Sandy Hook, Conn, as-

signorto Fabric Fire Hose Company, Sandy Hook, 001111., a corporation, of New York Application October 11, 1947, Serial No. 779,243 23 Claims. (01. 139-15 This invention relates to circular looms that are designed throughout for high speed operation, and to-the method of operating the same. The looms of the present invention are well adapted to weave heavy tubular fabrics such as fire hose fabric that is several inches in'diameter, but may be used to weave tubular fabrics for various purposes.

Circular looms as constructed heretofore have beenprovided with two or more shuttles that are equally spaced about the central axis of the loom, and these looms have been provided with shed forming mechanism designed to shift the shedfor each shuttle. The construction is such that any attempt to operate these prior looms at high speed subjects theshuttles to a strong centrifugal force that makes it difficult to retain the shuttles in the proper position upon the shuttle raceway.

These prior looms-also have frequently been provided with sliding heddles adapted to shift the warp threads there being one bank of heddles for each shuttle, the arrangement being such that when the loom is in operation one bank of heddles will raise certain warp threads while anotherbank of heddles will lower other warp threads to thereby form the open shed to receive the shuttle so that it will lay a Weft in'the shed. These heddles are commonly shifted through a substantial range so as to open the shed wide enough'to clear the shuttle, but the effect of this is to displace the warp threads a substantial distance from the free shedposition and place a strain uponthe harness and warp threads.

Due'to these undesirable features of the circular looms constructed heretofore it hasnot been practical to operate such looms at high speedsjand the looms available heretofore for weaving a heavy tubular fabric such as a fire hose fabric that is five or six inches in diameter, so far as I know, were always operated at a speed of less than 100 revolutions per minute.

The present. invention contemplates circular looms which differ radically from those available heretofore and which employ only one shuttle that extends almost entirely around the shuttle raceway so that it is well balanced as to centrifugal forces. This loom is entirely free from reciprocating parts, with the result that the operating parts of the loom are well balanced and will operate satisfactorily at high speeds. The present looms are designed to operate, even when weaving heavy fire hose fabrics, at a speed of nearly 1,000 revolutions per minute. In other words a loom constructed in accordance with the present invention is capable of operatingnearly ten times as fast as the looms used heretofore to weave the same type of heavy tubular fabric.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a high "speed circular loom that is capable of weaving a heavy tubular fabric at a much higher speed than the circular looms available heretoforeto do the same type of work.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a circular loom which is capable of weaving a tubular fabric with a single shuttle instead of requiring at least two shuttles to complete the weave as was the-{case in the circular looms employed heretofore. By employing a single shuttle that extends more than two-thirds the way around the loom axis so that the weight of the shuttle may be distributed well around the central axis of the loom, it is possible to produce a shuttlewhich is well balanced within its own structure as to centrifugal forces and therefore is well adapted for high speed operation. Such a shuttle permits the use ofthree supporting rollers spaced 120 apartabout the looms axis so as to engage the shuttle racewayat three evenly distributed points around thelooms axis. Such a construction differs greatly in stability from the shuttles employed heretofore and wherein all of the weight of the shuttle was disposed at one side of the lo'om axis, and had no adequate means for count'erbalancing the centrifugal force acting on the raceway, so that the centrifugal force increases as the speedof the loom increases. l

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shuttle having two weft packages mounted on the shuttle at l apart so that the weight and centrifugal force of one will counterbalance theweight and centrifugal force ofthe other, and another feature resides in the construction whereby'a weft thread is drawn from each of these packages at the same time during the weaving .operation so that the size of the two packages will be reduced simultaneously to keep the shuttle balanced as to centrifugal force whether the weft supply packages are large or small; 'These two, weft threads are. laidgin the same shed, which contributes to the weaving ofa thinner and flatter fabric thanis possible when a single weft threadof equivalent size to the two threads is laid in )the shed. It alsov allows the use of blended weft; i. e., combinations of cot- .ton, nylon, etc; or other fibers in separate yarns instead of intheispinning of a. single yarn.

By employing a; single shuttle. as'herein contemplated, in place of a plurality. of shuttles as has been I the practice heretofore, a stronger tubular fabric can be produced, because when a cause it to take most of the load when the tube is expanded, with the result that when a fire hose which is woven with two or more shuttles is subjected to a high internal pressure most of the load will fall on the tighter weft thread while the weft coil formed of the slightly looser weft thread will take very little of the load until the tighter thread is overloaded or breaks.-

An extremely important feature of the present invention resides in the shed forming mechanism whereby the sliding heddles commonly employed heretofore are omitted and the shed is formed without the use of reciprocating parts. This is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by employing a notched selector wheel which is formed around its outer periphery with both deep and shallow notches. These notches serve to select the warp threads that are to be shifted to form the shed. This notched selector wheel is constructed and arrangedto, be rolled against the warp threads of the shed to operate with a geared-tothe-warp action. The arrangement is'such that the shallow notches will force certain warp threads outwardly slightly from 7 their neutral plane position, while the deep notches will avoid displacing such warp threads as enter the deeper notches. In this manner the notched selector wheel initiates the formation of the open shed. The nose of the advancing shuttle then enters between those threads which aredisplaced outwardly and those whichare not displaced, and as the tapered nose continues to advance between these selected threads it opens upthe shed to allow the shuttle to pass therethroush.

The notched-selector wheel which rolls upon the warp threads with a geared-to-the-thread action lends itself perfectly to the use of a single shuttle, since after a weft thread has been laid entirely, around the loom in one shed it should then be laid in the next shed to proceed with the weaving. This is accomplished in the present loomby'causingthenotched selector wheel to displace a diiferent'set of warp threads on its second revolution than it shifted on its first revolution. To secure this desired result the total number of notchesformed inthe selector wheel must be so chosen with respect to the total number of warp threads, that the number of warp threads is notexactly divisible by the total number of notches. For example if the total number of notches of the selector wheel is 81 and the total number of warp threads is three times this or243, the present loom will not weave under this condition because the shuttle will continue to lay successive coils of the weft thread in the same shed, but if the total number of warp threads is 244 or '242, so that after the selector wheel has passed entirely around the loom it will engage a different set of warp threads, then a new and different shed will be initiated'upon successive revolutions so that the nose of the shuttle can-enter this new shed'and the loom will weave one pick after another as the shuttle rotates; 4

It will be apparent from what has just been said that the notched selector wheel of the present invention provides an extremely simple and practical way of changing the loom whereby different types of weaves may be produced. For example if a selector wheel is provided with an equal number of shallow and deepnotches, so

that every other warp thread will be'displaced outwardly from the axis of the loom, a plain weave will be produced. If on the other, hand the selector wheel is provided with two shallow notches for each deep notch, then two warp threads will be displaced outwardly for each third thread which enters a deep notch and is not displaced. This will produce a twill weave. The relative number of deep and shallow notches "be varied to a wide degree but the spacing of such notches must be the same as the spacing of the warp threads. Likewise the ratio between the total number of notches and the total number of warp threadsin the shed maybe varied extensively. These variables make it pose sible to weave almost any conceivable type of pattern on the present loom. When it is desired to change the weave this can be done by simply increasing or decreasing by one or more the total number of warp threads, orvby un-' screwing a nutand removing from its operating shaft one type of notched selector wheel and substitutinga different type of such wheel. V

The above and other features of the present invention and novel arrangement of parts in the present loom, and novel method of operating such loom, will be further; understood from the following description when read in connection with the' accompanying drawings wherein: V

Fig. 1 is an end view of a circular loom constructed in accordance with thepresent inven tion showing the warp receiving end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts in section of the upper half of the'loom of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3iis' an end view of the loom shuttle looking towards the end from which the woven tu-- bular fabric issues. 1

, Fig. '4 is a similar view of the opposite end of the shuttle, and shows parts of this endofthe shuttle which are concealed by the frame in Fig.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal centralsectionalview through the loom shuttle-and associated parts.

Fig-6 is a detailed view showing how the Weft package is supplied to the loom shuttles Fig. '7 is'an enlarged sectionalviewthrough friction. brake means for the weft package- Fig. 8' on a larger scale. shows part of that end of theloom illustrated in Fig. 1. w

Fig. 9 illustrates how the notched selector wheel isgeared to and selectively displaces the warp threads. 7 I

FigulOis an end view of :thefconical former sleeve of the shuttle and plug, viewed from the end from which the fabric issues.

Fig. 11 is a similar View of the ofthe conical former sleeve. a r Fig. '12 shows the conical former sleeve in side view and the adjacent outside fabric sizing ring in section. f r

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16' are detailed sectional views taken at different points around the sleeve and ring just mentioned and show how th'eshed is manipulated. I

i Fig. 17 is a section taken on. line H- H of Fig. 12. I.;

Figs.1-18' and l9fiare. front: and side-'views re opposite end 5. spect'ively of the warp receiving end of one of the'spring fingers.

Fig. 20 is a front view of part of this spring finger and of the associated warp clamping means.

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken approximatel onthe line 2|-2| of Fig. 2. r

.Fig. 22 is a side view of the tapered body portion ofthe shuttle.

.Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 231-23 of Fig. 22.

a Fig. 24 is a sectional view of the selector wheel and associated parts in disassembled relation. v

Fig. 25 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 9 butshows a different selector wheel which has an equalnumber of deep and shallow notches. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 25 but shows the reed ring sprung open to change the shifting of the shed; and V Fig. 27 is a view that is the same as Fig.;26 except that a reed block is placed in the opening of Fig. 26.

The loom forming the subject matter of the present invention may be supported so that its central axis extends in a vertical direction or horizontal direction as desired. The loom is shown in the drawings as supported so that its axis extends in a horizontal direction. Such a construction makes it possible to arrange two such looms in tandem, so as to weave simultaneously an inner tubular fabric and an outer tubular fabric to thereby make a two plytube, and at the same time have most portions of both looms in convenient reach of the machine attendant.

The various parts of the circular loom are supported, in the construction shown, by a heavy outer frame II] which as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing is supportedin an upright position by the laterally extending base flanges II that rest upon and are bolted to the flange rails l2 that rest upon the buildingfioor l3. The rails 2 are shown as connected near the floor l3 by a wide beam 4 which is bolted to the rails |2.-

Main frame The main frame I is provided at one end midway between the top and bottom of the frame with the enlarged circular portion l5 which forms a housing that is provided with a slightly tapered bore in which is rigidly clamped the central tubular shaft I6 (see Fig. 2) that is providedat its outer end with the clamping nut Thishollow shaft supports the shuttle driving means 'to be described and also supports the fixed tapered wheel [8 which provides the runway about which the shuttle rotates, as will be hereinafter more fully described. This wheel I8 is rigidly clamped. to an end of the shaft l6 by the'nut l9 but can be adjusted vertically slight- 1y; for a purpose to be described.

The main frame Ii! has rigidly mounted thereinso as to lie at right angles to the plane of the mainframe the heavy warp supporting ring 20 and this ring has the inwardly extending annularfiange 2|;zx This ring 20 is rigidlysecured to the frame lii by the bolts 22. The primary purpose of the ring 20 and flange 2| is to support the warp forming mechanism so that the warp threads when not displaced from their free shed position will produce a conical shaped shed that converges towards the discharge end of the frame; that is the opposite end from that above described as having theboss H5. The end of the.

frame towards which the warp threads converge is provided with an annular boss '23 in which is tightly but adjustably mounted the outer sizing ring 24 which remains stationary during the operation of the loom but may be adjusted slightly axially of the loom'to accommodate the thickness of: the warp threads. Withinthis outer ring 24 is supported in slightlyspaced relation theretotheinternal sizing rin 25 which is rigidly secured to an end of a long tubular pipe 26. This pipe "26 extends throughout the length of the loom and is supported from its opposite end bylthreads which engage the threadedopeni'ngf formed inthe bridge member 21.. The oppo-' site ends'of'this bridge member are clamped be-- tween bolts 28 and sleeves 29 that extend outwardly from the end of the main frame Ill, the arrangement issuch that the pipe 26 maybe rotated within the threaded opening withinth'e' bridge member 21 to thereby adjust the inner ring 25. lengthwise ashort distance within the outer ring 24, and the'parts are clamped in the desired position of adjustment by. tightening the clampin nuts 30, 3|. 1

The various warp threads W are supplied 'b packages carried by any desired type of creel, not shown, and they pass'from such packages to a thread plate 32 provided with numerous holes through which the warp threads W pass... This plate 32 is rigidly supported in an elevated 'posi-' tion above the frame In by supporting lugs 33 projecting upwardly "from the top of this frame: and to which one end of the plate 32 is bolted, and this plate is further supported by the upright bolt 34 which extendsupwardly from a lug 35 upon the frame l0. 1 l l l After the warp threads Wpass downwardly through the guide holes in the plate 32 they divide so that half of the warp threads pass to the right side of the loom as shown in Fig. 1 while the other half pass to the left side of the loom. It is necessary that these threads'W be supplied to the flanged warp supply ring 20, 2| entirely around the frame, and to this end the ring 20 is provided with a' number of outwardly extending lugs 36. In each of these lugs is rigidly mounted a thread guiding post 31. These posts are of different lengths, the longest posts being disposed near the top of the loom and the shortest posts near the bottom of the loom, and the warp threads or at least most-of the warp threads pass from the guide plate 32 about the long upper guide posts 31, whereupon some of these warp threads extend inwardly towards the central opening of the flange ring 2| while other warp threads extend downwardly to one or more of the lower posts and then inwardly towards the opening-in the flange ring 2|. T

In order to form the conical shedin which the warp threads W converge towards the weaving point between the external ring 24 and internal ring 25 these threads are led inwardly from the guide posts 31, through thread tensioning means to be described, entirely around the loom frame as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. They then pass to spacing means which will maintain these threads uniformly spaced from each other where they pass through the central opening in the flange ring 2|. To support such spacing means the flange ring 2| is provided at its inner periphery with the wide rim 38, and to this rim are bolted in spaced relation to each other the comb ring 39 provided with the evenly spaced pins 49 and the reed ring 4| provided with the relatively longand evenly spaced reed fingers 42. These two rings 39 and 4| are adjustably secured to the rim 38 by clamping bolts 43 provided at spaced points around the rim. The reason both a comb ring 39.and a reed ring Al are employed is to space the warps W uniformly around the loom and to make sure that all warps are evenly spaced where theystretch from the pins 40 to the fingers 42, for a purpose to be described.

If the shuttle, to be described, were not in the loom all warp threads W would extend in a straight line from the comb ring 39 to the entrance between. the outer ring 24 and inner ring 25, and the entire group of warps would form' what is herein called a free shed of conical shapes. When, however; the shuttle is in place so that the loom may weave most of the warps will be displaced from the free shed position and as the shuttle is revolved about the fixed central pipe 26, different warp threads will be displaced from the free shed or straight line position. As these threads are displaced their effective length must be increased to prevent the threads from breaking. This requirement is met, in the construction shown, by providing blade-like spring fingers 46 disposed radially entirely around the loom and adapted to spring yieldingly towards the comb ring 39 to accommodate the change in warp tension caused by the displacement of these warp threads from the free shed position by the revolving shuttle, which forces some threads outwardly and others inwardly as shown for example in Figi 2 of the drawing. It is here desired to point out that these inwardly and outwardly displaced warp threads W are shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing as forming an approximate parallelogram, which is symmetrical in shape. Thisis important because in this case the length of these warp threads that are displaced outwardly by the shuttle will be the same as that ofthe adjacent warp threads that are displaced inwardly by the shuttle. This means that if a thread tensioning'finger 46 controls the tension of two warp threads, as may be the case, and one of these warp threads is displaced outwardly by the shuttle while the other is displaced inwardly, therlnger will maintainboth threads under the same, tension. 7

The present loom has been designed primarily to weave heavy tubular fabrics such as is commonly used in fire hose employed by the city fire departments, and when so used the warp threads W will be large and strong and all warp threads should be maintained under high tension so that the tubular fabric woven on this loom will be strong and tightly constructed. Therefore the thread tensioning means which will now be described has been carefully designed to maintain the desired high and uniform tension upon'each warp thread.

Warp tensiom'n'g means The warp tensioning means for each thread or possibly each; two threads comprises the spring fingers 35 each of which has associated therewith a pinching blade 4?, and each spring finger and cooperating pinching blade are, secured. to the ring 26. by the clamping screws '43 and 49, see for example Figs. 2 and 20. One of these screws as has a reduced annular neck adjacent its head which constitutes a guide for the warp thread W as will be apparentfrom Fig. 20, and the other screw d9 has a relatively long tapered neck adjacent its head so that this neck forms a snubbing post about which the warp: threads may be wrapped two or more times as shown in tions in thread tension.

Fig. 2 of the drawing. In placing a warp thread W in the desired relation with the tensioning means it is led first to the neck portion of the screw 48 and then past theneck portion of the screw 49 as shown in Fig. 20. It then passes diagonally over the exposed face'of the thread pinching blade i! and then under the outwardly bent nose portion 50 of this blade as shown in dotted line in Fig. 20 so that this dotted portion is normally gripped between this nose and the spring blade 45. This thread W then crosses over to 'the'opposite side of the snubbing post 49 where it is wrapped several times around this post. It then extends downwardly to the open eye provided at the outer end of the blade 46 and which eye is best shown in Figs. 18 and 19 of the drawing, wherein it will be seen from Fig. 18 that the eye has a restricted opening 51 through which the warp can be forced but from which it is not likely to escape. From Fig. 19 it'will be seen that this eye has the form of a rounded saddle 52 designed to prevent chafing the thread as the blade is sprung towards and from the comb ring 39 to accommodate the varia- The arrangement is such that the thread is normally pinched between the blade 46 and nose 56 but this action is re leased when the tension upon the outer end of a blade 46 is sufficient to bend this blade close to the ring 39 and out of clamping engagement with the nose 50, whereupon the thread will be drawn forward from its sou-roe of supply. The thread tension means just described are clamped to the'ring 20 in uniformly spaced relation to each other about the loom as will be apparent from Fig. 8.

Having explained how the various warp threads are supplied under the desired high tension to' form a conical shaped shed, the means for introducing the weft threads in the shed to form the desired woven tubular fabric will now' be described.

Shuttle and weft threads The weft threads are not laid by two or more shuttles as has been the practice heretofore but are introduced by a single shuttle of unique shape in that it extends more than two-thirds around the shuttle axis; thereby providing a structure that is self-contained to resist centrifugal forces within it apart from-the: raceway. The shuttle contacts the shuttle raceway at three pointsdisposed, apart, so that the weight of-the shuttle not supported by the tensioned conical shed is transmitted to the shuttle raceway at points which are at all times uniformly spaced about the loom axis.

The present shuttle viewed f-ronr either end is somewhat 0-shape in appearance and has the pointed nose 531' and rounded heel 54*; see. Fig. 3 which shows the end. of the "shuttle that lies close to the woven tubular fabric designated by. F in. Fig. 2; and see also Fig. 4 which shows the oppositeend of the shuttle; The main body of the: shuttle comprises the frustro-conical shell 55, which as will be apparent from Figs". 22 and 23 has; about one-third of its longitudinal wall cut away to provide anopening through which the warp threadsv may pass into and out ofthe interior of the" shuttle: This shell 55 is provided at its smaller end \vitha 'G-shape flange 56 having: thebolt holes 51' adapted to receive bolts 58 which serve to fasten a. conical formersleeve Sit-rigidly against this flange as. shown in Fig.- 2. The smaller endof this conicalsleeve fits within the tapered endof 'theouter ring 24 and surrounds the inner ring 25. A small space is provided between the end of the former sleeve 59 and'the rings 24 and 25 to permit the passage of .threadsW to the weavingpoint.

The shuttle shown carries two weft supply packages 60 disposed 180 apart about the shuttle the warp axis so that one will balance the other when the shuttle is rotated. These packages. 59 are mountedoutside of the shuttle shell 55. It is therefore important to provide a skeleton frame about the shell 55 to hold the warp threads that are displaced "outwardly clear of the weft packges Bil. Thisskeleton'frame in .the construction shown is formed largely of bent tubular pipes. One of these pipes designated 61 and which is C-shape is welded to the large end of the shell 55- somewhat/in the form of a bead as shown for example in Fig. 22, and this pipe has an end portion 5| that extends outwardly and inclines away from the end of the plane of the shell as shown in part in Fig. 22 and .in part in Fig. 2 to helpjorm the shuttle nose 53. A continuation of, this pipe BI is bent in a reversed direction to outline, the curved heel 54 of the shuttle, and then is bent in the form of a second and larger to form theouter guard or spreader 62, and this portion ofthe guard also terminates adjacent the nose '53 to help support and define the nose as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The outer C-shape guard 62 is held inspaced relation to the inner C-shape pipe 6! by a C-shape flange plate 63 which is welded tov the pipes 6| and 62 as best shown in Fig. A'thirdjc-jshapepipe 64 is provided about midwaybetween the ends of the shell 55 and this pipe extends around the shell 55 in embracing relation therewith and is welded to this shell.

This pipe is thenbent in a reversed direction similar to the pipe BI and extends outwardly to form the outer G -shape guard 65 the outer end portion of which extends approximately longithat it is disposed outwardly a substantial distance both radially and longitudinally fromthe largei gand of the shuttle.

iffl'hefconstruction of theshuttle is such that it isbalanced as to centrifugal forces. In this connection it should be noted that the shuttle shell is made thin as shown in Figs. 5 and 23, thereforethe fact that a. curved portion of its ;wall is "omitted,as shown'in Figs. 22 and 23 does not change appreciably the weight of the shuttle or itsbalanceabout the loom axis. Much of the weight of the shuttleis provided by the supporting andbraking meansfor the two weft packages which are disposed 180 apart on the shuttleand bythe' wheelsw placed 120 apart. The pipes that form, the shuttle nose 53 and curved heel 54- provide considerable weight in the vicinity of the" gap in the shell Wall 55, so that the construction of the shuttle and distribution of its weight aboutitsaxis of rotation is such that it is so well balanced that it can be rotated at speeds of approximately 1000 revolutions a minute without .struedas meaning that the shuttle is so well balaneed that it can be rotated at high speed without causing the loom to vibrate unduly.

l When the shuttle is in operating position within the 10cm it is supported primarily by its engagement, in a manner tobe described, with the runway l8, but it is also supported at its smaller end by the engagement of the conical end. 59 of theshuttle with the clividedwarp threads where they enter the space between the rings 24 and 25. When the loom isthreaded up and ready for operation the shuttle nose 53 lies close to the row of reed fingers and the tip of this nose is disposed outwardly a slightdistance beyond the position occupied by the warp threadsW when they are in the free shed position, which free position is designated by a in Fig. 5 0f the drawing. As a result of this arrangement; when the shuttle is rotated, all warp threads that lie in thefree shed position marked a will be engaged by the tip of the nose 53 and forced inwardly by the inclined portion of the guide 6i to occupy a position within the hollow shuttle such as that occupied bythe warp thread b in Fig. 5. On the: other hand all warp threads that are displaced outwardly by selector means, to be described, will lie outside of the range of the tip of the nose 53 and will therefore be forced outwardly by the curved portions of the guards 62 and 65 extending back from the shuttle nose so that these .warps will occupy the position marked by c in Fig. 5 of the drawing. In this manner the open shed shown in Figs. 2 and 5 is produced through which the shuttle passes to lay the weft threads supplied bythe two packages 60 in the shed.

Having described the general construction of the shuttle of the present invention and how its projecting nose operates to force some threads "to the interior of the hollow shuttle and other threads to the exterior thereof, the warp selector means which constitutes an important feature of the present invention will now be described.

Warp selecting means It will be seen from the foregoing that as the shuttle is rotated the projecting nose 53 will engage all warp threads which occupy the position marked by a to force these threads inwardly to the position marked 12 where they liewithin the hollow shuttle, and that those warp threads which aredisplaced outwardly slightly from the position a in Fig. .5 will be engaged bythe shuttle nose and forced outwardly to the position marked 0 where the guards 6'2 and 65 hold such. warp threads out of engagement with the weft packages 60.

The means employed in accordance with the present invention to determine the order of shed formation comprises the notched selector wheel 61 the details of which are shown in Fig.24. This wheel may be formed as a sheet metal stamping and is somewhat saucer shape having a flat body portion and deep surrounding rim 68. The outer edge portion of this rim is provided with both deep and shallow notches marked 69 and II] respectively. The ratio of deep and shallow'notches may be varied. as desired. In Figs. 8 and 9 the selector wheel has two shallow notches 10 for each deep notch 59, whereas in the construction shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27 there are an equal number of deep and shallow notches. The notch arrangement shown in Figs. 8 and 9 will form a twill weave whereas the notch arrangement shownin Figs. 25, 26 and 27 will form a plain weave. The arrangement of these deep and shallow notches may'be variedextensively to thereby produce almost any conceivable type of weave in the finished tubular fabric F.

il 1 .As i e a re o Fig.- 24;. the n ch s lect r ee 6 1. a en a Op n ad ed to fi nu l up a t ing eev 12 an to a laterally extending supporting arm H. The

holes 18 formed in the selector wheel serves merely to reduce its weight. The arm 1'! serves to support the notched selector wheel in the position in which it is shown in edge view in Fig. 2 and in section in Fig so that its notches lie close to the reed fingers 42, and the arm 1'! serves also to revolve the wheel 6'! about the loom in a circular path.

The arrangement is such that as the supporting shaft of this wheel is revolved about the central axis of the loom the shallow and deep notches of the selector wheel will receive the warp threads and will roll on these warp threads with a geared-to-theewarp action. Those warp threads which lie in the shallow notches H3 will position indicated by a in Fig. 5, whereas those threads which enter the deep notches 69 will continue to" lie in the position indicated by a in Fig. 5 until the nose 53 of the advancing shuttle, which is disposed in close relation to those threads that are being positioned by the wheel 61 as shown in Fig. 8, enters between the warp threads as selected by the notched wheel and force such threads either to the position indicated by b one in Fig.5. The manner in which the notched selector wheel Bl operates to select the warps in front of the shuttle nose will be further understood from an examination of Fig. 9 in which those warp threads disposed at the right side of this view are shown spaced a sub stantial distance apart due to the fact that these threads are engaged by the shuttle which holds them apart and so that one warp thread marked 2) lies at the inside of the shuttle for each two warp threads marked 0 disposed at the outside of the shuttle. As these warp threads slide off of the heel .54 of the shuttle they return to the free shed position marked a, whereupon they are almost immediately acted upon by the notched s lector wheel 6'! that is being advanced bodily from the left towards the right hand side of the drawing in Fig. 9 as indicated by a horizontal arrow in this view, and is at the same time rotating with a geared-to-theewarp action as indicated by'a vertical arrow in this view. In this manner those warp threads engaged by the shallow notches 19 or the wheel willbe displaced, outwardly slightly out of the reach of the tip of the shuttle nose 53 which is not shown in this view, whereas the other warp threads lying in the deep notches will not be displaced from their free shed position by the wheel and as a result will lie inside of the arc defined by the shuttle nose and will be forced inwardly by the shuttle to the position indicated by b near the left hand side of this Fig. 9. An examination of Fig. 5 will show how the comb pins 4g and reed fingers 42 cooperate to hold the warp threads accurately spaced from each other to conform to the spacing of the notches of the selector wheel.

vHaving described how the notched selector Wheel O e h a ner hich t e 5. 1

tl is r t t lx supported w in thep oom hem and the means for driving the shuttle and advancing the selector wh now be described;

Driving mechanism for shuttle and selector wheel e l n a circularp tb i The shuttle, in accordanccwith the present invention, revolves about the fixed tapered wheel l8 which constitutes a central raceway upon which the shuttle turns and thesh'uttle contacts this raceway at three points spaced 120 apart about the loom axis. To this end the shuttle is provided'with three rollers 19 see Figs. 3, .4 and ,5

r and each of these rollersis provided with a rubber tire 89 adapted yieldingly to engage the metal runway H5 so as not to crush the warp threads 12 passin h rebetween- The manner n which these wheels 19 are mounted upon the shuttle is shown in Fig. 5 in which the c -.shaped'f lange plate 53 is provided with six bolts-receiving lugs that are rigidly secured to this plate 63, and ex tending through these lugs are the clamping bolts 8| which screw into a flange plate 82 that sup port-a shaft 83 upon which the wheel 19 is ro, tatably mounted by the roller bearing 84, The shaft 83 is disposed slightly eccentric of its plate 82 so that the wheel 19 may be moved closer to the runway l 8 by removing the bolts 8 l; and turn.-

ing the plate slightly. Since slightly more than prevents the shuttle from moving bodily in an axial direction away from the fabric forming end of the loom. o

It is important that the shuttle be accurately centered with respect to the loom axis so that V the shuttle nose 53 will be properlypositioned with re pect to the circular warp, But the shuttle will tend to settle downwardly as its supporting apparatus becomes Worn. This settling of the shuttle can be'corre'cted' from time to time by providing keys of different thickness between the shaft l6 and hub of the cone wheel 18, one such key is indicated by I 8 in Fig. 2. i

In order to operate the'loom and to revolve the notched selector wheel 61 in a circular path, the fixed central shaft it above described is provided with a surrounding sleeve 86 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft [6 by the anti-iriction bearings 81. This sleeve is driven by any suitable means such as the belt 88. To this rotating sleeve is clamped adjacent the fixed runway 18 the Shuttle pushing means comprising an arm 39 that extends laterally outwardly from the sleeve or power shaft 86 and is provided at its outer end with a laterally extending shaft on which is journalled the push roller 90, see Figs. 2 and 21. This roller 90, which is free running. engages thev roller 79 located at the heel of the shuttle and pushes the shuttle in a. clockwise direction in Fig. 21 of the drawing. The hi h tension and friction of the warp threads through whi h, th shuttl is passin pr vents the hut from running away from the Push wheel 90 when the loom is being slowed down.

Th otc d ec r w eel 61 is advanced in a circular path about the loom axis in a somewhat similar manner to that oi the push roller 90. To this end there is clamped about a central portion of the driving shaft 86 a split sleeve SI having the oppositely extending arms 92 and 93. To the arm 92 is adjustly secured the arm TI above described and which rotatably supports the selector wheel. The oppositely extending arm 93 carries a counterweight 94 that serves to counterbalance the weight of the notched selector wheel. The sleeve 9I is clamped about the power shaft 86 by the bolts 95 which permit this sleeve to be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 88 and angular.- ly upon this shaft to thereby accurately position the edge of the selector wheel 61 with respect to the reed fingers 42 and position the shaft of the notched wheel accurately with respect to the shuttle nose. The screws 96 provided on the arm 92 permits the arm I! to be. adjusted radially outwardly from the central axis of the loom so that the notches of the wheel 61 may be accurately positioned with respect to the free shed position a of the warp threads. As shown in Fig. 21 of the drawing the shuttle nose and the adjacent selector wheel are both advanced in a clockwise direction asindicated by the arrows, but as the selector wheel is moved bodily in a clockwise direction its engagement with the warp threads will cause this wheel to actually rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

The main or power shaft 86 is, as above stated, driven by the belt 88 and operates to advance the push wheel 90 and notched selector wheel 61 bodily around the central axis of the loom. The belt 88 is driven as shown in Fig. 1 by an electric motor 91 mounted upon the base plate I4 and adapted to drive variable speed means located in the casing 98. This variable speed means drives the belt pulley 99 which drives the shaft operating belt I38.

During the operation of the loom the woven fabric F is drawn forward with a strong pulling force, by means not shown, and at a rate whichis accurately synchronized with the speed at which the fabric is being woven. This pull upon the fabric serves to draw all of the warp threads W forward from their source of supply, not shown,

through the individual thread tensioning means above described, so as to maintain each warp.

thread under suflicient tension to cause it to return immediately to its free shed position a as soon as it passes out of engagement with the heel of the shuttle and to remain in this position until it is displaced either inwardly or'outwardly by the nose of the shuttle.

In order to produce a heavy closely woven fabric it is important to supply the weft threads as well as the warp threads under high and accurate control tension. The means for automatically controlling the tension of the Weft threads T as they are drawn .from the supply packages 60 carried by the shuttle will now be described.

Weft tension control The construction and operation of the means for supporting and controlling the tension of the weft threads is the same for both packages so that the description of one will suffice for both.

The weft thread of the package 60 is wound upon a supporting tube I formed of paper or the like portions thereof bolt receiving lugs.

flange plate '03. The tilting collar I03 has mount- 1 ed therein an anti-friction bearing that rotatably supports the shaft IOI, and also supports this shaft for limited longitudinal movement. The arrangement is such that when theshaft IOI is supporting a weft package in its operating position the shaft will occupy the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5, but when it is necessary to replenish the weft package the shaft IOI may be slid in the direction of its length, as shown in Fig. 6 sufficiently to disengage the opposite end of this shaft from its supporting sleeve I04. The opening in this sleeve I04 is provided with ribs and slots adapted to fit the corresponding ribs and slots upon the shaft IOI so as to prevent relative rotation between the shaft II'II and the sleeve I04 when these parts are in the operating position in which they are shown in Fig. 5. In order to prevent the shaft IOI from accidently sliding lengthwise in its supporting bearings when the loom is in operation this shaft is slotted to receive the spring latch piece I05 which is shown in its retracted position in Fig. 6 and in its locking position in Fig. 5. The shaft supporting sleeve I04 is provided with an antifriction bearing I06 which is carried in the annular flange I01 of the flange plate 66 of the shuttle. This shaft supporting sleeve I04 has specially constructedbrake means associated therewith in the manner best shown in Fig. 7 to retard the rotation of the package 60 in thethread unwinding direction, and the amount of braking force exerted on the sleeve I04 is controlled by the tension exerted upon the weft thread T.

Referring to Fig. 7 of the drawing it will be seen that the shaft supportingsleeve I04 and bearing I06 are mounted in a bearing supporting ring I08 that fits within the annular flange I01. To this ring I08 is rigidly secured a large flat head I00, and from diametrically opposite portions of this head project bolt receiving lugs. The shaft supporting sleeve I04 has rigidly secured to one end thereof the friction disc IIO the opposite faces of which are covered with cork or the like. The construction is such that thisdisc is confined between one face of the head I09 and a similar face of a movable head I I I having extending from diametrically opposite This mov able head III is mounted for limited movement towards and from the friction disc H0 and is positioned between the head I09 and a bridge bar II2 which is also provided with oppositely extending bolt receiving lugs. The outer head I09 and bar II2 are rigidly clamped in spaced relation to each other by the spacing bolts I I3 having the enlarged central portion I I4. These bolts II3 is mounted the internally threaded sleeve II I.

This sleeve after it has been rotated in the boss I IE to the desired angular position is clamped in such position by a set screw I I8. This threaded sleeve has screwed therein the threaded post II 9 and theend of this post which lies between the head I I I and bar I I2 is provided with oppositely extending arms I20 and I2I, see Fig. 5. The arm I20 is provided near its outer end with a small aeoassc wheel I22 about which the weft T is looped, and

theiouter end of the arm EU is provided with'a post 923. To this post is secured one end of the tension spring l-Z l (see Fig. 3) and the opposite end of this spring is anchored to theplate 36 at .125. The arrangement is such that. the spring I2 5: tends continuously to rotate the threaded posts l 29 in a direction to move this post lengthwise towards the intermediate head ill so as to increase the friction pressure exerted upon. the disc HG to thereby retard the rotation of the package Ell in the thread unwinding direction. This action of the spring I24 is opposed byv the tension of the weft thread which is looped around the roller 522. Since the threaded post H9 will be turned back and forth through a small angle as the tension upon the weft thread varies, and

since this bolt acts to exert an end thrust against the movable head i l Land-friction means is provided between the head i l l and post l M] comprising the hardened metal buttons E26 and i287 that abut one against the other as shown. It will be understood from the construction just described that any variation in the tension of a weft thread being delivered to the weaving point will cause a slight rotation of the threaded shaft i is to thereby vary the pressure on the. friction disc Ht that controls the rotation of the package 63.

As a weft thread T leaves eitherpackage til it passes about a guide bar 52? as shown in Figs.

3 and .5, and then to a guide ring lztattached to the shuttle shell 55 outsidethe shell and midway between the two packages as, so that the threads T travel from. their respective packages to this common guide ring i28. As soon as these threads pass through this ring, they travel away from each other along diverging paths as shown in Fig. 5 so that each passes through a hole in theflange plate 68 and then to a guide ring E29 secured to this flange plate. passes from its ring i 29 towards its brake control arm in which carries the thread roller i22 (see Fig. 3). It is looped about thisv roller and then extends-in the reverse direction back to a guide ring lSEl secured to the plate 55. In this manner each thread T controls the brake connected to its supply package.

In weaving, the two weft threads are laid in the same shed, this tends to produce high uniformity in the strength of the weft coils of the fabric. 'Both of these threads T are. therefore shown in Fig. 3 as passing through that ring 530 which lies closest to a thread guide slot l3l formed in the conical former sleeve 59. It will be seen from the construction above described that the tension of each thread T is automatically controlled by the operation of such thread to vary the braking action that retards the rotation of the package'supporting shaft Sill.

In order to weave a closely constructed fabric it is important that the weft threads be forced tight intoflthe crotch of the open shed as such threads are laid by the rotating shuttle. The conical former sleeve 59 is therefore constructed as shownfor example in Figs. 2 and 5 and'also in Figs. 10 to 17 so that the reduced conical end of this sleeve will fit well into the crotch just mentioned. One wall of the slot i3! is provided with a projecting lip l32 that has extending longitudinally thereof a groove adapted to receive two weft threads as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and as the shuttle rotates ina direction to hold the threads T in this groove these threads will be laid close to the bottom of the crotch formed by theopen'shed, and as the shuttle continues to .Each thread T I will press these rotate the projecting horn I33 (see Fig. 12) pro} truding from the opposite side of the slot I31 weft threads tightly into such crotch. 1

General description Having'described the principal portions of the circular loom of the present invention a general points disposed apart about the central axis of the loom. These rollers roll upon the'tapered outer surface of the fixed guide wheel or runway i8 secured to the rigid central shaft 16. The engagement-10f theconical former sleeve 59'at the small end of the shuttle with the inner and outer Warp threads adjacent the weaving point helps to keep the shuttle accurately positioned with respect to the central axis of the loom as it rotates. The shuttle is driven by the push wheel 93 journalled upon an'arm extending outwardly upon the main driving sleeve 86. The warp threads W supplied from creels, not shown, pass through apertures in the-guide plate 32 and then downwardly about the opposite sides ofthe loom as shown in Fig. 1. The threadsthen pass to the spring take-up fingers 46 and then inwardly through the opening in the flanged ring 2i), 2i in evenly spaced relation around the loom. They then pass from this ring to the weaving point to thereby form a conical shaped she'd. Formation of the openshed is initiated by the notched selector wheel Bl. which maybe provided with any desired groupin of shallow and deep notches depending upon the type of weave desired.

"The shallow notches will serve to displace the warp threads outwardly beyond the range of the notches will fail to displace the warp threads that enter such deep notches and these threads will be engaged by the shuttle nose and directed inside of the hollow shuttle. This notched selector wheel is advanced in a circular path about the loom axis by an arm I? that is attached to the powershaft 86 and as this wheel is advanced around the loom in contactwith the warp threads its notches will engage such threads with a geared-to-the warp action to selectively shift the warp threads. It is essential, however, that the sum of the total number of notches in this wheel 5] shall be such that it will not divide evenly into the total number of warp threads. If the total .number of notches will divide evenly into the total number of warp threads the shuttle will continue to rotate one revolution after another in the same shed and will not weave a fabric. If, however, the total number of notch-es will not divide evenly into the total number of warp threads the order in which the shed is opened will change as the selector wheel completes one revolution about the loom axis and starts the next. This will start the formation of a new shed and thereby produce a woven fabric.

To illustrate further how this notched selector wheel operates, let it be assumedthat the selector wheel 6'! shown in Fig. 9 has 27 deep notches and 54 shallow notches making a total of 81 notches. If the loom shown should have for example 243 17 warp threads, which is three times 81, the loom. would fail to weave becausefilwill go three times into 243'withoutaa remainder. If, however, the loom is provided with 242 warp threads or 244 warp threads, or with almost any other number of warp threadswhich cannot be evenly divided by 8| the loom willweave, as a changein shed will be formed each time the selector wheel-makes one complete revolution. .Since the selectorwheel Bl asshown in Fig. 9 is provided with two shallow notches for each deep notch it will produce a twill weave. The 242 warpthreads will produce a twill fabric sloping in one direction and the 244 warp threads willproduce a twill fabric sloping inthe opposite direction. The notched selector wheel shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27 has an even number of deep and shallow notches and will therefore produce a plain weave. When it is desired to change the character of weave being produced upon the present loom this. is easily done by removing a selector wheel 61 having one arrangement of deep 'and shallow notches andsubstituting a selector wheel having a different notch arrangement.

The type of weave being produced canalso be changed by changing the number of warp threads supplied to the loom instead of changing the selector wheel, Forexample this may be accomplished by employing the constructions shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27 wherein it will be noted that theJreed ring 41 is split at I34 so. that this ring may .be sprung open as. shown inFig. 26, a block I35 may be inserted in this opening as shown. in

tubular fabric in which two or' more coils of the weft yarns are laid in the same shed to build up a weft ring formed of a number of such coils,

as "more fully described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,475,012 for Woven Tubular Fabric.

In this case the split ring construction shown in Fig. 25.wouldbe used andiafter thefdesired number of weft. coils have been laid in one shed the ring '4! would be momentarilysprung open as shown in Fig. 26 to'change the spacing between two of the'warp threads so as to cause the. formation of a new shedin which the revolving shuttle may again lay a numberof successive weft coils. This springing of the ring 4t opento the. extent of onepitch can be effected by the use of anysuitable means, not shown, but operated by the loom rotation to open this ring momentarily each, th, 6th or other number of rotations.

In order to. illustrate that the selector wheel 61 may be provided with. different arrangements of deep and shallow notches, the selector wheel til is shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27 as having an even number of notches in place of. the different showing of such notches in the other views. These three views serve also to show how the character of the weave is changed by springing the ring M open as shown in Fig. 26 or by springing it open and inserting a filler block I35 as shown in Fig. 27. Upon examining these three views it will be seen that when the ring M is sprungjopen the distance betweentwo; warps a change in the order of thread displacementby the selector wheelis produced.

Byemploying notched selector wheels having different arrangementsiof the deep and shallow notches it is possible produceqalmost any consubstituted" in its place.

In some cases it may .be desir'able to apply wax or other types of lubricating material to the. warp threads W'as theyapproachj the weaving position. To facilitate this a hollow annular ring IjBBsuch as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing maybe provided and supported from the machine frame 19 to supply the desired treating material to the outer warp threads.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the loom illustrated in the drawing is well balanced and free from reciprocating parts, and since itemploys only one shuttle inwhich the weight is evenly distributed about the central axis of the loom, it will not be adversely affected by centrifugalforce when driven at high speeds nearly as much as are the types of looms used heretofore and employing two crmoreshuttles. Therefore the presentfiloomis well adapted to be operated at high speedjand is capable ofbeing operated satisfactorily 'at a speed ranging. f'roni500 to 1,000 R. P. M. when weaving .afheavy tubular fabric. This is approximately ten times the speed of the looms now'in use for weaving this type of fabric. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, a shuttle that, travelsupon the raceway, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about its central axis, a free turn ing notched selector wheel having deep and shallow notches positioned to roll against the warp threads, means for moving this wheelin a circular path so that its .notchesreceive the warp threads and it is rotatedby its geared-to-thewarp action to selectively shift the warp threads of the shed and control .the warp threads that are shifted to form the open shed, and means for pushing the shuttle through theshed formed by saidwheel. v

2. In a circular looin' having an endless raceway, ashuttle'that extends through an angle of over and supportedby the raceway, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to. form a shed about its central axis, a. notched selector wheel having deepfiand shallow notches positioned to roll against the. warp threads, means for moving this wheel in a circular path against the warp threads in geared relation thereto to displace selected warp threads and control'the threads that are shifted to form the open shed, and the ratio of its total number of notches to the total number of warp threads being such as to determine the order ofwarp shift in successive picks in accordance with the arrangement'ofthe deep and shallow notches.

3. In a circular loom havin arevolving shuttie, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about itscentral axis, a notched selectorwheelhaving shallow and deep notches in the order in 'whichxthe shed. is: to 'be --opened, meansfor' moving this wheel. in'a circular: path in rolling engagement with the shedse that said notches receive the threads withag-eared-to-thethread action that turnsthe wheel so that it selectively shifts the threads to initiate opening of the ,shed and controls the threads that are shifted to form the open shed.

V V f 19 4. In a clrcularloom having anendless raceway, ashuttle that travels upon the raceway, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed, a notched selector wheel positioned near the forward end of the shuttle and formed with deep and shallow notches to selectively shift the warp threads, means for moving this wheel in a circular "path against the warp threads ahead of the shuttle so that it is rotated by its geared-to-the-warp action and operates to control the threads that are shifted to form the openshed.

5. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, a shuttle that travels upon the raceway, means for supplying warp threads tothe loom to form a shed, a notched selector wheel formed with deep and shallow notches so that the total number of such notches will not divide evenly into the total number of warp threads and adapted to selectively shift suchthreads means for driving the shuttle, and means for moving the wheel in a circular path against the warp threads so that it is rotated by its geared-to-the-warp action to selectively shift the warp threads in accordance withthe deep and shallow notches and open the shed for the forward end of the shuttle to enter. i

6. In a circular loom having a revolving shuttle, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about its central axis, a notched selector wheel having deep and shallow notches, means for moving this wheel in a circular path so that its notches receive the warp threads and the wheel rolls against the threads in geared relation thereto and is turned by this action to shift selected warp threads and control such threads as ar shifted to form the open shed, and the ratio of the number of notches in the wheel to the total number of warp threads beingsuch that the order in which the wheel shifts the warp will differ successively from pick to pick.

7. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, a shuttle that extends more than half-way around the raceway to travel thereupon, means for driving this shuttle, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about its central axis, a free turning notched selector wheel having deep and shallow notches, means for moving this wheel in a circular path about the loom in engagement with the warp and 013- erable to push outwardly the warp threads that engage the shallow notches and to thereby select and control the threads that are shifted, and open the shed in a different order from pick to pick.

8. In a circular loom having a raceway, a shuttle that travels upon the raceway, means for guiding warp threads to the loom weavin point including a cone ring and a reed ring spaced slightly apart, a notched selector wheel having deep and shallow notches and positioned to roll against the warp threads between said rings, means for moving this wheel in a circular path so that it is rotated by its geared contact with the warp threads to selectively shift the warp threads of the shed in accordance with the disposition of the deep and shallow notches, and means for pushing the shuttle through the shed formed by said' wheel.

9. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, a shuttle that extends more than half-way around the loom and constructed so that itis substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces and having contact with the raceway at three points spaced 120 degrees apart about the loom axis,-rheans for supplying warp threads to the loom'to forma shed, means-for opening the shed, and means for driving the shuttle. a

10-. In a circular loomhaving an endless raceway, a'shuttle that extends'more than half-way around the 'loom'and constructed 'so'that it is substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces and supported from the raceway at three points spaced 120 degrees apart around the loom, means for driving this shuttle, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed, and means for opening the shed so as to shift the warp threads differently on diiferent picks.

11. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, a shuttle that extends more than half-way around the loom to travel upon the raceway, means for driving the shuttle, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to forma shed and for opening the shed, and two weft packages mounted upon'the shuttle at diametrically opposite sides of the loom so that one will balance the centrifugal action of the other when the shuttle is rotated.

- 12. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a conical shaped shed, an approximately conical shaped shuttle that extends far more than half-way around the loom axis to travel on said raceway and which is substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces about said axis,

means for driving this shuttle, and means for shifting the warp threads of the shed to receive the shuttle. j

13. In a circular loom having an endless race way, meansfor supplying warp threads in a converging directionto the weaving points of the loom to form a conical shaped shed, an approximately conical shaped shuttle that extends most of the way around the loom axis and is substantially balanced as to centrifugal, forces, said shuttle being adapted to travel on said raceway and provided with a reduced conical end disposed adjacent the weaving'point', means for driving the shuttle, and means for shifting the warp threads of the shed to receive the shuttle.

14. In a circular loom havin an; endless raceway, means for'isupplying warp threads to the loom to form a conical shed, an approximately conical shaped shuttle that extends more than half way'around'theloom axis and is substantially balanced about such axis as to centrifugal forces, said shuttle being constructed to travel on said raceway and has at its small end a slotted conical bearing member thatris seated on and rotates upon the conically disposed warp threads, and means fordriving the shuttle and for shifting the threads of the shed.

15. In a circular loom having anendless raceway, means for supplying warprthreads to the loom to form a shed about the loom axis, an approximately tubular shuttle that extends more than half-way around the loomaxisi'and is substantially balanced about suchjax'isas to centrifugal forces and has a sideopening leading from theexterior to the interior of the hollow shuttle through which the warp threads pass in opening and closing the shed,means for driving the shuttle, and meansfor initiating the formation of the shed. j r 1 16. In a circular loom, a fixed wheel disposed axially of the loomand forming a shuttle runway, a shuttlethat extendsmore than half-way around the loom and which is substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces an'diis provided with three rollers disposed degrees apart on the shuttle in contact with said wheel, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed, means for shifting the warp threads, and means for driving the shuttle.

17. In a circular loom having a revolving shuttle, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about its central axis, a notched selector wheel having deep and shallow notches and removably mounted in its operating position, means for advancing this wheel in a circular path so that its notches engage the warp threads with a geared-to-the-warp action and selectively position the threads to displace some of the warp threads outwardly to initiate the thread formation, whereby the pattern of the fabric being woven can be quickly changed by changing from one notched wheel to another, and means for pushing the shuttle through the shed formed by said wheel.

18. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, a shuttle that extends through an angle of approximately 270 and is substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces about its axis of rotation and supported upon said raceway, means for supplying warp threads to this loom to form a conical shaped shed about the loom axis, means for opening the shed, a power operated shaft disposed at the axis of the loom so that it extends within the space surrounded by the conical shed, and a shuttle pushing arm rigidly secured to the power shaft and extending outwardly therefrom into position to push the shuttle around its raceway.

19. A circular loom having a shuttle raceway, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about its central axis, a single shuttle operable to weave a tubular fabric and constructed to extend more than half-way around said axis and having its weight so distributed that it is substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces as it rotates, and a selector wheel having deep and shallow notches and adapted to be moved bodily in a circular path about said axis and geared-to-the-warp by its notches so that it is turned by the engagement of such notches with the Warp threads, whereby the selector wheel initiates the opening of the shed in accordance with the disposition of the deep and shallow notches.

20. A circular loom having a shuttle raceway, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about its central axis, a single r shuttle operable to weave a tubular fabric and constructed to extend more than half-way around said axis and having two weft packages positioned thereupon 180 apart whereby the shuttle is substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces as it rotates, and a selector wheel having ance with the disposition of the deep and shallow notches.

21. A circular loom having a shuttle raceway, mea s for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a conical shaped shed, a single shuttle operable to weave a tubular fabric and constructed to extend more than half-way around said axis and having its weight so distributed that it is substantially balanced as to centrifugal forces as it rotates, and a selector wheel having deep and shallow notches and adapted to be moved bodily in a circular path inside the1coni cal warp and geared-to-the-warp by its notches so that it is turned by the engagement of such notches with the warp threads, whereby the selector wheel initiates the opening of the shed in accordance with the disposition of the deep and shallow notches.

22. In a circular loom having an endless raceway, a shuttle that extends more than half-way around the loom axis and travels upon such raceway, means for supplying warp threads to the loom to form a shed about its central axis, a free turning notched selector wheel having deep and shallow notches positioned to roll against the warp threads with a geared-to-the-warp action and push some but not all of the warp threads outwardly to thereby select and control the warp threads that are shifted in opening the shed, and means for pushing the shuttle through the shed as the threads are sifted by said wheel.

23. The method of weaving a tube which comprises, supplying warp threads so that they form a shed about a central axis of a loom, revolving a shuttle about said axis to pass through the open shed, rolling a notched selector wheel having deep and shallow notches against the shed with a geared-to-the-warp action so that the selector wheel is turned by the engagement of its notches with the warp threads and is thereby operated to initiate and control the opening of the shed in accordance with the depth of the notches, and said selector wheel being adapted to cause the warp threads to shift differently from pick to pick when the total number of warp threads is not a true multiple of the number of notches in the selector wheel.

CHARLES SCHNEIDER COLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Long July 30, 1040 

